"Lion Heart" is a song that was recorded by South Korean girl group Girls' Generation for their fifth studio album of the same name. It was released as the album's title track by SM Entertainment on August 18, 2015.
Composition
"Lion Heart" was described as a soul pop-inspired bubblegum pop song by Billboard. It embraces a 1960s American retro sound and has a jazzy melody as well as "an ear-grabbing bass line". Lyrically, the song talks about women falling in love with men who have a cheating heart and how they try to tame him like taming a lion.
Music video The music video was released on August 18, 2015. The music video narrates a story where the members of Girls' Generation each fall in love with a male protagonist, who turns out to be the same man (with his head being that of a lion, representing the song's conceptual "lion heart/lyin' heart" pun). They become upset and team up against him, then go on to reject further advances from him separately. The song was choreographed by the American choreographer Tony Testa & SM Entertainment's choreographer Shim Jaewon. It became third most viewed music video on YouTube by a South Korean act in August 2015.
Reception Billboard praised the song for its retro themes and shifting of member roles saying "But what is new, musically, is the division of lines – namely when Yuri, a member who typically only chimes in with a line or two, gets to handle a majority of the second chorus. It's a decision that further shows how Girls' Generation is embracing change in their eighth year..." The song was deemed the 7th best K-pop single of 2015 by PopMatters. Meanwhile, Idolator chose it as the 24th best K-pop song of the year.
Awards and nominations "Lion Heart" received 14 music program awards in South Korea. It was nominated for Song of the Month (September) at the 5th Gaon Chart Music Awards, but lost to iKon's "My Type". It was one of the Digital Song Bonsang winners at the 30th Golden Disc Awards and was nominated for Digital Daesang.
+Music program awards Program DateThe ShowAugust 25, 2015 Show ChampionAugust 26, 2015 M CountdownAugust 27, 2015September 3, 2015September 10, 2015 Music BankAugust 28, 2015September 4, 2015September 11, 2015September 18, 2015 Show! Music CoreAugust 29, 2015September 19, 2015 InkigayoAugust 30, 2015September 6, 2015September 13, 2015
Credits Credits are adapted from Lion Heart liner notes.
Studio SM Blue Ocean Studio – recording SM Blue Cup Studio – recording SM Concert Hall Studio – mixing Ingrid Studio – recording, digital editing MonoTree Studio – recording, additional vocal editing Sterling Sound – mastering
Personnel
SM Entertainment – executive producer Lee Soo-man – producer Kim Young-min – executive supervisor Girls' Generation – vocals Taeyeon – background vocals Jeon Ji-eun – lyrics Hwang Seon-jeong – lyrics Kim Jeong-mi – lyrics Choi So-young – lyrics Joy Factory – lyrics Hwang Hyun – lyrics, vocal directing, recording, Pro Tools operating Sean Alexander – composition Darren "Baby Dee Beats" Smith – composition, arrangement Claudia Brant – composition Avenue 52 – arrangement Shin Agnes – background vocals Kim Cheol-sun – recording Jung Eui-seok – recording Jung Eun-kyung – recording, digital editing Choo Dae-kwan – additional vocal editing Nam Koong-jin – mixing Tom Coyne – mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peakposition Japan (Japan Hot 100) 49 South Korea (Gaon) 4 US World Digital Songs (Billboard) 3
Year-end chart Chart (2015) Position South Korea (Gaon) 44
Sales Country Sales South Korea 1,120,388
Release history Country Release date Format South Korea August 21, 2015 Contemporary hit radio
References
External links